Brother and Sister II

Zhongqi left Beiyue in haste to look for Rou whom he found talking to some newfound friends in school.

Good, she should social network for now for her to gain some allies in society. It helps that she used to play with the Lin sisters when they were kids, so she was hanging out with Lin Wanjun among the girls.

He should have some lunch to tide over his hunger and the heaviness of things he found out about just now, before going back to school in East College. He bore the indignity of a retained student as despite his knowledge and skill, his cultivation was lacking to be allowed to go up a year and everyone knew it so he lost face because of his cultivation. His peers wondered just what the heck is his father and grandfather doing as its THEIR job to elevate the Family Childe and made fun of his family while also indirectly poking fun at him as out of all Childes, he was the weakest.

Then there's his very wealthy royal sister who didn't support him financially out of spite was because of his father's actions towards her mother and her and had her maid cultivate to high levels just to spite a now dead man. When his father was alive, he was fuming about the matter and many maids jealous that Dongling grew up beautiful and privileged. However, Beiyue only takes in young girls, a handful at a time when her mother's maids retired. She only took in five, just enough people to clean her mansion unlike his family who hired more than what they can pay for.

A servant's yearly salary, is 360 gold a month, enough to feed their families back home and how many do they have exactly? His relatives and his own family hired enough for their personal retinue as well as collectively aiding the maintenance of the whole Xiao Estate - Specifically, THEIR area of the Estate.

In a salary of 3000 gold, his father has hired a lot of people when he married Princess Royal and thought of himself as a big man having access to his royal wife's massive wealth. But due to his cheating ways, she naturally didn't spare an Iron. Due to that financial disaster, grandfather had to help cover the costs for all thirty servants! That's like, 144000 gold a year. He divided servants among the family. Himself, and retinues of his wives. He hired mostly manservants because while a man can have so many, wives have their retinues based on status. Concubine Qin who was from Chief Counselor's family has six maids, and Concubine's Xue and Fang each have three.

It was good grandfather was rich or else...but since Zhongqi started earning bigger than his father does as of age seventeen, he now has to take on that burden or else lose face. And while he doesn't mind financially supporting his mother and sister, he definitely minds financially supporting Xue and his siblings from her. Smug slag just because Yun has Summoner Talent! But as Summoning Cultivation is too expensive, joke's on them!

Xue thought grandfather will financially support Yun with his millions? Hah! She clearly doesn't know how the world works! Childes are EVERYTHING!

He gives the barest minimum possible out of spite, and they know it. Even better, Xiao Yun cannot approach him casually and he spites her by dressing his little sister well.

He has nothing against Concubine Fang even if Xiao Ling annoys him. But he knows full well how modest and careful Aunt Fang was with money that he treats her better. And just to maintain his favor, Aunt Fang keeps secret that he gets a lot of money from him a month. He gives her 10000 gold and from what his spies tell him, she spends the money in making her area of the estate always well-maintained, and having a lot of useful plants in her garden as well as fruit trees so that she and her pavilion have snacks any time they want when in season, as well as paying for Ling's tutoring...because that walking disaster with lips so loose will anger anyone around her to death she can't attend Lingyang! She has no idea what SUBTLETY and RESTRAINT is in her feelings and actions.

Its clear to all that Ling can never marry up. Ever. Or she'll die young if she married into a Baron household as that was as far as her worth can go.

To Xiao Yun whose mother gets a monthly allowance of 1500 gold, boy, does he know where that monthly allowance goes! Its gone in a blink as soon as they pay their retinue their monthly salary! Zhonglei complained to him that they never think of him and even HE needs new things, but they didn't spare an iron for him as his mother and sister focused on Xiao Yun's beauty and efforts in hopes to snag a rich husband and get out of being a Xiao as Xiao Yun has no future in the Xiao Family! At least when their father was alive, he gets something!

Really now? Like hell that 1500 will go far. He had a servant scope out prices of things girls would naturally be interested in and gave 1500 ON PURPOSE.

He mailed grandfather about Zhonglei's woes and how that slag thinks. Needless to say, Grandfather no longer visits them and out of anger, grandfather told him and Zhonglei Xue's past. She was once Princess Royal's MAID who seduced her way to Concubinage when Princess Royal married Xiao Yuancheng, and her lady was out in the warzones...the family maids would tell him things and that got the brothers' eyebrows raising.

She was a treacherous snake, and raised her favorite child to be as treacherous as she was. Zhonglei felt that could have been HIM had he been born with Summoner talent. He could not believe how his mother has a truly poisonous nature, other than being a deliberately neglectful woman into favoritism! Zhonglei was bitter and resentful from abandonment, and horrified at how far his mother will go in her ambitions.

Zhongqi has some pity for Zhonglei as a result that he gives Zhonglei 500 gold in secret to do as he wishes with the money and Zhonglei told him and grandfather that he would work and avoid his mother and sister as much as possible, and even moved out of the estate, taking one manservant with him. That way, if they bit off more than they can chew, at least he won't lose face because of their treachery as he was unknown in society because of neglect. No one knows he is the son of Concubine Xue and younger brother to Xiao Yun. And due to how he dresses, nobody'd THINK he was a Xiao as he doesn't wear clothes befitting a young master. In fact, his reputation in school? Privileged manservant! Nobody knows he's of the Xiao Family!

He had the reputation of being a shy, polite boy who stays out of everyone's way in favor of the books within the Pagodas and often seen surrounded with books and notes. So he at least, was friends with some sons of court official commoners.

And he deliberately adjusted his name in admissions exams? He wrote Xiao that had the meaning of 'a cry of alarm', and Zhonglei was written as 'inwardly feeling tired and weary' befitting his situation.

Well, he was smarter. Xue and Yun's greed will get them in trouble eventually and Grandfather was thinking of ways to distance relatives if they pissed anyone off.

Zhonglei attends scholarly courses in Imperial College. He took History, Rites, Arithmetic and Mount Archery. This way, he was truly 'not of note' and can marry a commoner girl as he was aware that he has no future among upper class, thank you. He will at least, be a scholar as a historian and priest, and get a decent job someday. At least Zhongqi has no worries of Zhonglei usurping him like most childes has to worry about.

Grandfather approves that Zhonglei at least, mapped out a decent future for himself and supports his endeavors. Warrior he cannot be, but at least being a scholar gives him a good reputation.

Their sole concern was the treacherous pair now. After their father, its Xiao Yun who's next to stir trouble.

He would have to warn his sister.

xxx

At home...

'Rou'er, we need to talk.' said Zhongqi grimly.

'Did something happen?' Rou frowned as Zhongqi took her to the gardens in a way Zhongqi can see anyone coming.

Zhongqi had to tell her what he learned from their royal sister that their father who angered a lot of high-profiles, was killed in action in an assignment his superiors sent him and a few worthless soldiers out to, to die in the field now that he no longer has the protection of the Royal Family, and learning of a history they didn't know about. Their mother deliberately kept THAT from them with good reason, but there's hope for them yet.

'Rou'er, no matter the cost, avoid Xiao Yun and do not get provoked by her so you'll have Beiyue's subtle support.' Zhongqi warned Rou seriously. 'This is a chance you must NOT lose. Be the beautiful, noble and dignified beauty that snakelet can never be! Everyone's eyes are on us as we have YET to lose face unlike our parents. One shot is all it takes, Rou'er. This way if you do well in school, our maternal grandfather will have us in his eyes as well as third sister's secret support.'

'Right...and how come she's being nice to us anyhow considering our colorful history anyway, brother?' Rou asked Zhongqi.

'I don't know and frankly I don't want to know...sometimes, digging in too deep will get you in trouble.' said Zhongqi. 'Do well for your own sake as well as our mother's. For now our reputation is clean. Do NOT let Xiao Yun have a chance! Its you who's gonna pay if you let yourself be provoked by her. You'll lose your future!'

'A-alright...' Rou gulped.

As a former noblewoman because of her father's actions, they were walking on a tightrope of string. And tread carefully they must. She's lucky she still gets to be friends with girls from important families when her father screwed up.

Last year they lost their Royal Family Status and nobody knows why.

(in the mansion and palace, Dongling and a eunuch sneezed)

Mother wondered if their father did something again!

Not that they'd know...

So Rou knows she has to do her best and forge a reputation so strong it'll be hard for Xiao Yun to wreck!

That means no chasing boys no matter how cute they are or Yun will use that to her advantage and she's like what, twelve years old?! Haaa?! She's MORE likely to be slutty being fifteen! Humph! Biiiitch!

School the next day after morning classes...Rou began her efforts.

She mastered etiquette at home all her life, and she now puts it to practice upon her social debut.

One year. Just one year...!

Ever since Princess Royal died and they lost their Imperial Status, her mother was adamant that she become a beautiful flower that smells nice in order to do better than she did. Mastering etiquette and manners, walks in elegant grace like that of a cat's with pride to match, dress prettily, speak well and intellectually, and while growing up knowing what a proper maiden should be, she wasn't stupid.

Her mother would teach her how a household like theirs works. Constant competing and scheming to elevate themselves while sabotaging others without getting caught.

While she can freely do so to Ling or Yun if they annoyed her, she cannot get caught nor leave evidence to do so.

Then again, she needed no effort.

Ling and Yun slit their own throats themselves while nobody has yet to find fault in her and she'll make it stay that way.

Ling has lips so loose father never allowed her to attend Lingyang with Zhongqi. Letting her go was social suicide not just for her, but for their father as well!

Yun, the idiot, pursued Summoning Course when their family doesn't have much money. Normally that's OK as grandfather's rich he can foot the bill. Problem? He went into seclusion since Yun was nine years old to cultivate after gaining the Fire Leopard! Nobody knows where he is, that by the time Yun was in school and he didn't come home in time to help the family out...heehee, idiot got mocked in public! Before long, before father was sent to die on that assignment, it was known that she had to transfer to Imperial College because she really can't stay in the Summoner Course.

Moron could have avoided that humiliation, if she didn't gamble with her chances that grandfather will come home in time to help her.

Perhaps gambling isn't her forte.

Yun basically destroyed herself, tough luck with scoring a rich noble for a husband. Those nobles, not even a Baron's son will touch her as a noble's pride, is their looks, cultivated by years of selective marriage and expensive pill supplements. She wasn't even that pretty anyway. She and Ling have 'cheap looks' as their mothers were cheap beauties and cheap flings while she has class since birth!

Perhaps Xiao Rou need not do much lest she destroy herself too. Her older sisters did that job for her!

She'll keep her stellar image and avoid boys for now. If she managed one year untainted, she'll gain third sister's support! Beiyue has nothing against her mother, thankfully...according to her brother, she will overlook her mom's mischief in the past as she more than enough paid for it.

And how, Rou thought.

Their father was politically stupid, a fact he had hid by portraying himself to be a good man at home but outside, there's wolves out for blood! Princess Royal of all people and he cheated on her. Not only that, a neglected wife! Naturally the Royal Family will find out which is why they lost their status because of him. And angry ex-suitors took offense on her behalf even past her death. The Xiaos are alone and no noble will dare grace them due to how hated they are.

'Rou'er we have more chance with sons of government officials.' said her mother. 'That is still marrying up...through politics. You'll be safe there from the memory of your father's messes. Your brother may likely marry girls from there too. Its all we've got. Be careful and do well, my little rose!'

She absolutely has to, if she wants a future with Beiyue's support.

xxx

Fang was also pondering for Ling's future.

She was the walking disaster of their household that she cannot even marry the son of a government official. She also has no talent in martial arts even if she can cultivate.

Its also her fault for letting her grow up spoiled, but when she became a concubine, she, a maid from a poor background lavished her daughter with things she dreamed of. Perhaps she should have restrained herself...

Her daughter's sole accomplishment, is being educated and knowing housewifely skills, but a good housewife she is clearly not.

Even if she married a commoner, her husband will quickly get annoyed and beat her to death!

Ling was thus her sole regret and hopefully she matures before age twenty...one year left!

She was afraid, deeply afraid.

Her daughter is reckless and unrestrained...perhaps the only thing Ling can have, is a privileged upbringing as she clearly has no future by both their own faults as Fang spends nights crying and thinking about it.

"Perhaps if in the next life I was born again, I swear to be a better mother...I made a horrible mistake with Ling'er's upbringing!"

(a;n- its hard to write Xiao Ling from the little screen time she got in manga. Even in novels she was just described and I haven't gotten THAT far yet in 'five years from now' part)

xxx

'Mother, grandfather's not visiting us lately.' Yun commented as its been over two years since Qiyuan visited the pair for Yun's lessons.

'Now now Yun'er, be patient. Grandfather is probably finishing up his own cultivation first.' said Xue gently. 'He must not be done yet from reaping full benefits from his Fire Leopard. Right now he's an 8-star Summoner and his beast is a Rank 12. He hopes to rise as a Master Hand for the family.' she said. 'He's also protection for ourselves. Time for training will soon come.'

Unknown to the pair, thanks to Zhonglei whom they discarded, Qiyuan has lost all reason to even deal with the treacherous pair any longer and could care less about their future now.

They were the kind that if given an inch, they'll take a mile. And daughter will be like mother!

They were effectively suppressed if not given any inch.

Xiao Yun was a 1-star Summoner who knows some spells but cannot hope to have a Spirit Beast. Like Zhongqi, she was forced to be held back in Lingyang School due to this.

Yun hated that many girls made fun of her for that, that she wasted two years of her time in what she can never have. Worse still, Lingyang sent the family a letter that she should go to Imperial College instead of waiting for what she clearly can't have. She was the butt of jokes even servants made fun of her outside her mother's retinue openly, but what can she do?

Many times, Concubine Xue and Xiao Yun cursed the Emperor. They were so close to Huang Beiyue's money! So close, and alas, it was snatched away!

They bore this indignity while under the mercy of Concubine Qin and Xiao Zhongqi. And given history, Huang Beiyue was well-taught by Princess Royal's maids thus her door was shut when Xue's concerned and spurned them no matter the sweet talk! Damn bitches, they were counting on a naive idiot!

Due to having almost nothing, they really have to score good!

Xue blames herself for jumping Xiao Yuancheng. Had she known he's super-useless beneath his newly-gained Prince Consort title, she would have stayed to use that woman some more and score a noble!

(delusional fool doesn't realize how lucky she was in being with an idiot. had she done other things, she won't live long as she deserved for her treachery)

xxx

As for the family member they callously deemed insignificant, he was actually much-much better off.

He lives in a one silver a month apartment with his manservant. Furniture at least decent by standards. He had hired the missus next door to teach his manservant how to cook and laundry as cleaning was his forte.

He didn't dare to wear silks because of his ruse, thus both wore cotton clothes. Cotton was something the well-off can afford. The clothing commoners who aren't well-off have to endure with tough rough fabrics! Meats cost around 50 coppers for a chicken and the most expensive being mutton at almost a silver. And a bale of rice that'll last two men for several weeks, is 1 gold. Due to Zhonglei being a rich kid, he enjoys eating mutton dishes and some fruit. Thus food expenses are high. 500 gold allowance, is exactly enough with his lifestyle of choice!

And because Zhonglei has no idea what servants usually have and because he was kind, he unwittingly did the right thing.

Instead of buying a mat for a servant, he bought a BED. Initially, the servant at first didn't question the extra bed but upon getting home...he finally asked.

'Huh? For a guest? Who on earth will visit me?' Zhonglei said, perplexed. 'That's YOUR bed!'

'Ehhh?!'

As for food?

Zhonglei did not purchase grains for servant food. Servants eat solely boiled grains. A boring diet. The servant initially feared he had no food, until...

'Oh, did you learn your first dishes from Auntie next door?' Zhonglei asked him the next morning as the servant just finished food prep.

'Yes, young master.'

'Good. Cook enough for the two of us and make my lunch box.' said Zhonglei as his servant tried hard NOT to cry in joy. Did he hear that right? He'll get to eat rice and meat?! And young master likes mutton! 'I'll be too busy in the next few days aiming for scholarhood so when you're done with your duties, go visit family or something and come back in time for picking me up at school and dinner.'

'Yes, young master!'

Zhonglei had no idea he gained a very loyal servant by simply having no clue about the lot servants have in life.

For the sake of a paycheck of 30 gold or in the royal palace 40, they endured a boring diet, hard work, enduring spoiled brats, holier-than-thou or angry masters and flogging if they mess up or to simply take their anger on someone out on THEM and sleeping on hard mats on the floor. For maids, they even have to endure the advances of the masters or young masters and if found out by angry wives, they'll be punished! Same for manservants if a neglected wife or concubine wanted some loving and master found out...!

And then this man, a random manservant Zhonglei chose to take with him in his flight from Xiao Estate, had the privilege of sleeping on a high quality cotton bed AND eating good food, as well as after his jobs, allowed to visit home in the city! What servant is this lucky, even in the Imperial Palace?!

Oh wait, Princess Beiyue's servants are also lucky with their miss. Due to the allowances, Zhonglei cannot afford educating him. 500 gold won't go far and school in Temple School costs 1000 gold a year!

His salary of 30 gold is enough to feed a family of five in a month. Lucky he lives in a family of four...and all of them working. The extras go to yearly taxes while still enjoying a life of comfort!

As for life in school?

With his personality, it was easy for him to make friends that unlike his sister Yun whom he knows is openly mocked for daring to stay in East College when she can't even advance due to being unable to cultivate past one star, he was in fact, popular for his good looks and pleasing personality. He even appealed to some girls, but alas, those high class girls won't look at him for marriage as he was a known 'lucky servant'.

They lamented that someone so handsome and also nice, is a mere servant.

'Gee, you OK with openly hearing that, Zhonglei?' one of his friends would say.

'Rich men can keep them for all I care. They're a high-maintenance lot in money and things rich girls would want.' said Zhonglei. 'I'd rather marry a nice girl who's fine with a modest and simple, but happy lifestyle.' he would say to his friends. 'I'll find some girl in town and hopefully hit it off when we graduate.'

'Well that's smart of you...most people around your class aren't so smart and get killed for it.'

'Well, maids mostly fall into that category...I have yet to hear of a fellow manservant trying to aim high.' Zhonglei snorted as he had his mother in mind. 'Well, not my problem.'

Indeed, not anymore, he thought. He would live a life he can be proud of himself of. Scholars are also well-respected, are they not? Or perhaps one day, he can become a Court Official by studying hard for the Imperial Exams and work his way up!

However, one of his friends was apparently, his third sister's suitor...

And she called him to her house after dinner at home.

'...posing as a manservant, are we?' Beiyue asked her second brother with a raised eyebrow.

'I have no choice third sister...mother and Yun's ambitions will get them to slit their own throats.' said Zhonglei anxiously. 'I'd rather be far, faaaaar away and anonymous when they get impatient. As of two years ago, I began distancing myself when Zhongqi began financially supporting the family. Mother and Yun...are they even human?' he croaked out. 'How on earth was I born from someone like her? But their fantasies will never apply in reality. Before long, they annoy someone and get killed for it. I for one, don't want to die because of THEIR mess.' he griped. 'Nobles are known for exterminating their enemies thoroughly. Family and friends of whoever offended them, down to the last infant!'

'Not only that, when father was around, I 'exist'.' Zhonglei scowled. 'But when father's not around anymore and never came home for months, I'm not stupid sister. He's clearly dead as military assignments don't last past six months for Duweis! Nobody just made that official yet...what made me realize that is when Zhongqi started footing the bills...and I was a nonentity since in mother and Yun's eyes.' he sighed. 'I appealed to Zhongqi and grandfather found out...grandfather was furious.'

'Grandfather didn't show his anger openly. I didn't even know he's angry.' Beiyue commented. 'Why did he get mad?'

'Because I told him that mother and Yun were plotting to get out of the Xiao Family by marrying big as they have no future here. Grandfather got angry and told me of mother's past...' Zhonglei told Beiyue, unaware she already knew while his manservant was shocked. 'He was so mad he stated he no longer cares for Yun's future now. They were the type that if you gave an inch, they'll take miles.'

Beiyue knows that loooong ago of course.

'I decided to be anonymous since then.' said Zhonglei. 'I changed my name and as long as I don't annoy Zhongqi or anger anyone, I still have financial support from them until I graduate Lingyang and get a job. I have to avoid Yun for all my school years hence. She and mother have no idea I'm posing as a lucky manservant of some noble. Or maybe they're so busy plotting and fantasizing they forgot I exist anyway, who cares?' he shrugged. 'At least if Yun bit off more than she can chew, I'm alive.'

'That's smart of you at least.' said Beiyue. 'You inherited your mother's smarts, but greed and ambition made her lose her marbles over time. Moreover while she has no qualms using, betraying and discarding, she'll have her comeuppance through Xiao Yun. It was smart of you to get away while you still can.' she said. 'You never attended even your first Palace Banquet when you turned twelve, so you're anonymous among the upper class as well.'

'Well I'm not one for parties...I'm just not interested in those. I'd rather stay home.' said Zhonglei wryly. 'Given how this family works, I'll get the best scenario for myself without dying. I aim for realistic goals, third sister. I want to live up to my eighties and I can do that by having nothing to do with nobles. That's just asking for trouble. At least I have friends among some sons of court officials...and how should I know one of my friends has YOU for a fiancee?!'

'Fufu, its a long story...'